Results 121-140 of 19,741 for speaker:Norma Foley

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (21 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I know, but there were very few speakers so I took the opportunity. I thank all of them.

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (21 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I had something prepared but I will do my best to run through some of the points that were raised. Deputy Kerrane should note that on the challenges regarding respite, residential services and others, it is positive that we can say there is a €3.2 billion budget for disabilities. This has been raised by other speakers as well. It has led to considerable improvements in some areas...

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (21 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 25 — Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised Estimate). That a sum not exceeding €9,709,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and for payment of...

Seanad: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (21 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Go raibh maith agaibh as ucht an t-am agus an deis seo a thabhairt dom. I thank the Sinn Féin Senators who have brought forward the Bill. I sincerely appreciate their motivation and intention here. When listening to the contributions across the House, I can tell there is a very keen understanding from Senators of the impact of socioeconomic discrimination on some of the most...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (21 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Tusla has advised my Department that it is sometimes required to reprioritise available placements to respond to the urgent needs of children in care. In that context, Tusla has advised that on occasion, the Agency is required to temporarily close respite services in order to accommodate critical placements. In this instance, Tusla has advised my department that the referenced respite...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (21 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259m of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8m was entirely new funding. Since the Scheme was introduced, its effectiveness has been subject to ongoing review and the scheme itself has evolved year on year. Core funding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (21 May 2025)

Norma Foley: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Assessment of Need: Motion [Private Members] (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I am not opposing the motion and I welcome the opportunity to debate this important issue. Like previous speakers and as I did earlier, I acknowledge Cara and her dad, Mark. In respect of Cara in particular, I acknowledge her absolute determination and her compassion to advocate not just for her own family but for all children in a similar position. It has been really worthwhile to have...

Assessment of Need: Statements (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I will fire away.

Assessment of Need: Statements (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle as ucht an t-am agus an deis seo a thabhairt dom. Cara Darmody, a 14-year-old child, will be outside Leinster House for 50 hours starting today, highlighting the deficiencies in the assessment of need system and the impact it has on families. I have met and engaged with Cara and her father Mark on three occasions, including last week. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. Capital funding has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant investment in early learning and childcare. Some €89 million has been allocated to my Department between 2023 and 2026. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Qualifications (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, all staff working directly with children in a pre-school service must hold at least a Level 5 major award in early childhood care and education on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification that has been deemed to be equivalent. This regulation ensures that all staff have a solid foundation in child...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on 4th November 2024. The closing date for applications was 30th January. A total of 78 applications were received. These applications came from a variety of locations across the country. Initial eligibility reviews, a full appraisal process and further suitability checks were undertaken of the applications. The Office of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government commits to reducing the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per month per child. This will build on significant progress in affordability that has already been made through a number of existing Schemes. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, which provides two years of pre-school without charge, enjoys participation rates of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government. Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. The most recent published capacity data for the 2023/24 programme year estimated that there were 8,913 children...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their family of origin, and foster carers provide a safe, secure and stable home environment for these vulnerable children and young people. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment in respect of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €400 per week for a child under 12...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Eligibility (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: As the State does not employ staff in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services, neither I nor my Department set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services are private businesses and their policies on operating hours and staffing are a matter for the service provider. As such, the decision...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I recognise the enormous, personal impact that pregnancy loss has on expectant parents and I wish to extend my sympathies to all parents who have suffered such a tragic loss. My officials are examining the findings of a qualitative research study to examine the workplace experiences of parents coping with pregnancy loss with an aim to informing potential supports. The study,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government. Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. The most recent published capacity data for the 2023/24 programme year estimated that there were 6,686 children...